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And she found it very difficult right then to care even the smallest amount.

Over the next hour, with Finn’s attention continually drifting toward her, Maisie was in heaven, listening to him sing, hearing the audience laugh aloud at his jokes, cheering with them as he sang out his talent with the band behind him.

She wished it would go on forever, but sure enough, the hour wound down, and after another energetic tune, Finn pulled away from the mic. He took a drink from the water bottle that had been at his feet, then chatted with his band so the rest of the pub couldn’t hear. The men nodded, and Finn grinned as he returned to the mic with a laser focus on Maisie.

“Alright, ladies and gents,” he began, “it’s been good craic. We hope you think so, too.”

A group of girls at the base of the stage whooped and hollered in delight, and a few of the band members grinned down at them.

But Finn kept his eyes on Maisie. “If you liked what you saw,” he continued, “feel free to follow us on all social media platforms. We’ve five followers right now, and if you think it’s a coincidence that there are five of us up here, too, it’s not.” The crowd echoed with laughter. “Not even our own ma’s follow us, so do with that what you will.”

More laughter, and Finn winked in her direction, a wink that was so powerful, she felt as if she could float on the wind of the euphoria it had produced.

“You’ve got another grand group comin’ up after us, so make sure to stick around,” he continued, “but for now, you still get two more songs from us. The first, we’ll be settlin’ into somethin’ a wee different. ’Stead of me singin’ alone, we thought we might invite someone up here from the audience.”

The girls in the front cupped their hands around their mouths, screaming to be chosen.

“I appreciate the enthusiasm,” he said, “but I’ve already got someone in mind.”

His eyes found Maisie’s, and the blood drained from her face.

Nope. Nope, nope, nope. There was no chance.

“Maisie King,” he said, that ridiculously attractive grin stretching wide across his lips, “come on up here, why don’t you?”

She shook her head at once, her heart stopping altogether.

This was not happening. There was no way he was calling her up—and there was no way she was going up. She shrank lower in her seat, even though Finn’s eyes had focused on her like a bird of prey.

“Looks like she’s bein’ a bit shy,” Finn continued, still grinning happily away. “Maisie’s from the States, see, so let’s give her a warm Norn Irish welcome.”

The crowd cheered, and people began to look around the pub, trying to find who Finn was speaking of.

“That’s you, love, isn’t it?” the bartender asked her, tossing his head toward Finn.

“Maybe,” she said.

“You know he’s not gonna let it go,” the man continued, smiling through his thick beard.

Sure enough, Finn continued. “Are you goin’ to deny me in front of all these people, Maisie?”

“Yes!” she shouted out above the noise of the pub.

Laughs scattered here and there, and despite it all, she couldn’t stop her own smiles.

“Maybe I ought to get you, then,” Finn said.

His eyes flashed, sending nervous anticipation through her limbs as he secured the mic in the stand and made his way off the stage.

The crowd cheered with whoops and whistles, and Maisie shook her head. She was going crazy at the sight of him, his eyes homed in on her like a tiger on the hunt, focused and daring, alluring and attractive until he finally reached her.

But she wasn’t about to give up that easily. “I don’t know any of the songs,” she said at once, shaking her head with a smile.

“It’s the same song as the one on Bob. The one ’bout Rathlin Island.”

Oh. Oh, that was a good song.

He held out his hand. “How ’bout it?” he asked with another wink.